Killzone2
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Rumour: Killzone 2 could be coming sooner than we think
There's a chance we may be seeing a Killzone 2 release as early as September. Game Planets is reporting that the latest issue of Power Unlimited magazine states that "expectations for the PlayStation 3 premier shooter are high, and Sony aims to release Killzone 2 during September." While we're going to reserve judgement for now, we wouldn't be surprised if this was true. We first got a glimpse of the game two years ago and, judging from the way Sony is handling the Killzone 2 presentation at E3, they must have something spectacular to show us now. A pre-Halo 3 release would also do the game a great deal of good, especially if its as groundbreaking as they say. We'll keep you updated as and when any developments occur. [Via N4G]
Sony E3 invite hints at Killzone 2 unveiling
We love receiving mysterious packages at Joystiq HQ and are particularly enamored by the ones that don't violently explode upon their opening. The card pictured above matches the latter description, though it seems to indicate that demolition and destruction is nevertheless in our near future. The card glibly invites its recipient to attend a unique two and a half hour Sony event on the evening of July 10th, just as Min-E3 gets underway. Unless Sony has taken a very interesting approach to promoting the next SingStar, the disagreeable fellow on the card implies that Killzone 2 will be the event's focus. Considering the event's length and the game's brief showing at GDC, a playable version of the anticipated shooter seems increasingly likely to appear. Once we finally see whether or not it lives up to the infamous 2005 prerendered trailer graphically, we can move on to more pertinent questions like, "Is it any fun?" We suspect we'll have an answer next month.
Killzone 2: to be or not to be... at the Game Developer's Conference
One place says Killzone 2 will be at GDC while another source gets told that no, in fact, Killzone 2 won't be at GDC at all. Who to trust? It's a tough call, since we reported on a pretty lofty rumor stating that a demo for the new game may just make an appearance at the Game Developer's Conference. After going over the two linked stories above, you may think that, indeed, IGN has the correct story. They spoke with Sony, after all, right? But, CVG has "well-placed sources!" This is turning into more and more of a big deal, but it really shouldn't. If it's there, neat. If not, well, damn.Now is the time for all of the beautiful readers out there to think about the two conflicting ideas presented here and discuss them in a rational, logical, adult manner. Personally, I'd like to believe the game will still make an appearance. It's not like Sony would try to hide its trump card, right?
Sony: 'Killzone won't be [at] GDC at all'
And like a rifle butt to the ocular cavity, the spark of hope in our eyes was handily extinguished with SCEA Manager, Ryan Bowling telling IGN, "No, Killzone won't be [at] GDC at all." Really? The game was a no-show at both E3 and TGS last year; in fact, the only thing we've heard (besides rumors) following the title's infamous E3 2005 debut is that it's the "biggest multimedia project in Dutch history." So, if that rumored Killzone 2 demo won't be making an appearance at GDC after all, and E3 is gone, when will it crawl out of the foxhole it's been hiding in for the last two years? Says Bowling, "The time for that game is coming and we'll have new information about it in the future, but not at GDC."[Thanks, Nav]
RUMOR: Killzone 2 demo to Face/Off against Halo 3 beta?
Heh, Face/Off was a funny movie. Was it supposed to be funny? Doubt it, but movies where the point is to get as many big stars as possible (Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen) so they can draw in as many "admirers" as possible are just silly. Luckily, Face/Off just had two or so big celeb names. I digress. Over at 1up, there's an interesting blog entry discussing Sony's answer to the Halo 3 beta arriving soon.The answer? According to Luke Smith, Sony will respond to the beta even before it's released -- the Game Developer's Conference. Phil Harrison is one of the keynotes (all the keynoters are actually very important... I mean, Miyamoto? Awesome.) and what better way to rise up to the Bungie challenge than announce a playable Killzone 2 demo? The game's rumored to be very far along in development, so why not? But please, don't call it a Halo-killer. That term is really annoying. But if this speculation turns out to be true, Killzone 2 will inevitably have that phrase tacked onto it.
Rumor: Killzone 2 demo before Halo 3 beta
1UP Editor Luke Smith has posted a bold prediction on his blog: "Expect a playable Killzone 2 demo to be released ... before gamers are participating in the beta for Halo 3." Smith's reasoning descends from a string of rumors, which suggest that Killzone disappeared, in part, to direct the spotlight on Resistance. The rumors also indicate that while on the down-low, Guerilla has transformed its "Halo-killer" from a pre-rendered heartthrob into a developed game; some rumorists even suspect that Killzone has been playable online for nearly a year.Smith points to Phil Harrison's GDC keynote address as an opportunity for Sony to steal (in typical from-out-of-nowhere fashion) some mindshare away from Microsoft and the mid-March Halo beta test by dropping *GASP* the Killzone 2 bomb demo! Never mind that the Killzone franchise has yet to deliver a noteworthy game; is the first half of 2007 really gonna be defined by a clash between a beta test and purported demo? If I'm a developer not working for Bungie or Guerilla, I'm about ready to hire a new PR agency -- that, or beg Sony to let my game piggyback on the Killzone demo's shoulders.Update: In response to comments that Killzone: Liberation (PSP) is "very good" or has "gotten great scores all around" (etc...), we simply offer up evidence that the title ranks 56th among current PSP games (233 in all) listed in score order. While we respect the opinions of those who enjoy the game, generally speaking, we maintain that Liberation is hardly noteworthy beyond its tie to the ridiculously over-hyped Killzone franchise.
Actual Killzone 2 better than trailer?
When Sony showed off the first trailer of Killzone 2 off forever ago (E3 2005), they billed it as actual in-game footage. Later down the line, it turned out those "in-game" shots were just CGI mock-ups; target renders they're called. Now Sony is telling us those CGI mock-ups are inferior compared to the REAL Killzone 2. O RLY? Phil Harrison, Sony CEO and game commenter extraordinaire, made some bold claims in the most recent issue of OPM (reprinted at Sony's semi-official blog, ThreeSpeech); supposedly, KZ2 has "some elements [that] already exceed the trailer." Excuse us, Mr. Harrison, but we'll wait until we see a working game this time. Given just how good Gears of War looks, pumping something out that looks like the Killzone 2 E3 trailer is possible. However, given Sony's history on this particular title, we're less inclined to believe 'em until we (or someone else we can all trust) actually plays the real thing.
TGS: Killzone 2, WRU?!
When Sony showed the now-infamous Killzone 2 trailer at E3 2005 I got goosebumps all over. Though we're all aware now that the trailer was merely CGI flimflammery, the memory still haunts those of us lucky enough to experience it in that darkened theater with sound so rich and deep it gave us a heart massage. Therefore, it's with no small disappointment that we report that Killzone 2 remains AWOL. After mysteriously disappearing from the E3 2006 lineup, Killzone 2 failed to show up at TGS. Some would suggest that this isn't a big deal as the Japanese gamer doesn't dig FPS games all that much. That excuse doesn't explain the huge presence of Resistance: Fall of Man in Sony's TGS booth. What gives?
